Holi and Bhang Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar, Durham in County Durham

Went on the 25/1/25. Restaurant was quiet time of the year I suppose, but personally I couldn't fault the place., staff amazing, chef came to our table, asking about the food, was lovely. Definitely recommend, and it's 2 mins to your room in adjacent hotel. Great value.

Hussain at Holi and Bhang is an absolute pleasure to interact with. The food is consistently fresh, delicious, and satisfying—whether you’re dining in or ordering takeaway. Hussain went above and beyond, delivering exceptional five-star customer service that we truly appreciate. The extensive menu and Tony’s top-notch cooking make every visit a fantastic experience. A big thank you to everyone at Holi and Bhang for providing such outstanding service!

Food was excellent. A nice choice of different Indian dishes, compared to the usual that are served in many restaurants.

First visit after recommendation. Will definitely go back again. Has something different on the menu compared to most of Durham’s city centre Indian restaurants. Everything was superb, but the lamb chop starter was standout. It’s a bit spicier than other places but we always ask on a first visit, and that’s what we were told. Flavours are wonderful.

Just been tonight a party of 14 the food was fantastic as was the waiting staff and chef nothing was too much trouble as we had various dietry issues. I will definitely be back and I would highly recommend 👌

Howdens joinery Bishop’s work night out. We chose here as menu looked very good. 7 different starters and mains ordered. Everyone loved the food and service was good also.

All absolutely fantastic. The variety and quality of food on the menu was a delight, it was all delicious and wonderfully prepared. Our server was very welcoming and professional and made our experience even better. They even brought out a birthday banner for my wife as a surprise. Would highly recommend you try this.

The thing about the food here is that it tastes so freshly made. We’ve had takeaways at others of similar style and just don’t get that feeling. Also we got a great variety of flavours, unlike some where it seems they have a few basic pots on the go and just add some different spices/herbs. (That’s only my opinion). A great selection of dishes and without fail they were all really tasty. We bought for 6 people and everyone was very happy with taste and portions. I’ve not given any stars for atmosphere because it was a takeaway but it was ready on time, very friendly and they even carried the three large bags to my car. Well done and thank you.

We had the popadom starter which was 1.95 each including the pickle tray- you only got 1 popadom with no real option for more. My partners curry came out ok- he asked for 3 popadoms with his curry which we got charged 1.95 each for them- this wasn't on the menu as an extra so we couldn't really dispute it but I couldn't believe we got charged almost £6 for popadoms! We got a rice to share which came in a little ramican- we'd both ordered extra sides so only wanted half of portion of rice each, what came in my opinion would have been classed as only half a portion of rice. I got the chilli and garlic chicken but upgraded to prawns. The prawns were over cooked but OK, the sauce however was much spicer than advertised. I tried scraping the sauce of the prawns so I could at least eat them but it was still too spicy and after a few mouthfuls the spice had settled on my stomach and put me off- the couple next to us had the same problem complaining the food was far too spicy so I know it's not just me (the dish they had ordered the same as mine was left un eaten). We didn't get anyone asking if our food was OK and most the staff were either really young or didn't speak English but were all too busy to call over. When they cleared our dishes I did tell them I thought the dish was far too spicy and I would recomend they tell customers how spicy it is when ordering. The chef/ owner came out and said that the dishes in the restaurant are spicer than what we are used ti and that because I had the prawn it was spicer than the chicken: were in England so please spice rate appropriately to not mis lead customers and I've never heard of a dish being spicer because of the meat, nor did it say this on the menu. At this point I was annoyed because it was being made out it was my fault- I hadn't asked for a refund but offered advice for future customer service after being unable to eat my tea- £63 for 2 later and I went home hungry The garlic naan was lovely

Hussain at Holi and Bhang was wonderful when there was an issue with a delivery company. Holi and Bhang Food is wonderful, fresh and tasty- never disappoints- both to eat in and take out. Hussain was brilliant and we can’t thank him enough for his five start customer service! Extensive menu and five star cooking:) Thanks to everyone at Holi and Bhang for such excellent service.

Delicious food, good service and relaxed atmosphere. The enthusiastic and friendly chef recommended a great combo matching our tastes, which suited us perfectly. We went at 17:30 Thursday evening. There were two couples and a family. Food arrived in good time. The only slight improvements would be to ask they add a few more songs to the play list and not to clear the dishes until both have finished eating. I highly recommend you try the delicious food here.

Small but perfectly formed. Chef is extremely good so food is top rate. You'll struggle to find somewhere better in Durham. Depth of flavour is wonderful and menu is well chosen. Decor is top notch. There is a small car park plus plenty of on street parking. Not easy to find, but well worth it when you do!

Great little Indian cuisine restaurant, attached to the Farnley Towers Hotel. Booking recommended as they don't have too many covers. The menu includes dishes you don't usually see in Indian restaurants. My husband has dietary requirements and the wonderful chef went out of his way to create a delicious dish for him. My Goan fish curry was excellent.

This restaurant is a hidden gem on the outskirts of Durham City. Had a lovely evening with attentive service and delicious food.

RUBBISH! DO NOT ORDER FROM! Ordered online, parts missing from my order I paid for. Rang restaurant and they said I'd have to re order naan and pay for a second delivery. When I argued this isn't fair, the person on the other end of the phone accused me of lying about my order. Shocking service.

The smell of Indian cuisine amazing busy tables clean welcoming defo worth a look fair prices

Okay, not great. Food is fine, but nothing amazing. Service also fine, atmosphere nice, but just nothing special. Won't be disappointed, just not wow'ed.

Attentive, friendly staff and good food.

Sat on my own one night enjoying the peace,when hunger set it. Was fancying something new, something different when I saw Holi and bhang listed. Seen it before but was out of my budget. But, looking at the menu,and reviews I decided to order in. The wait was an hour, just over, that filled me with confidence tbh that it was busy and that food was going to be fresh. Arrived with a smile, the food smelt beautiful, and the containers were hot. Set the table for myself and filled my plate. Food was Beautiful, tasty, really flavoursome, no grease and a lasting after taste. Totally recommend Holi and Bhang, the food was well worth the wait

We thought we had tasted good Indian food at our local award winning restaurant .. then we came here WOW!!! The bar has been raised!

Had a meal here as we were staying in the Farnley Tower Hotel that is connected. Great surroundings, the staff were lovely, without being overbearing. Food was absolutely delicious. Super price for great food.

Fantastic service and beautiful food, can't wait to visit again.

Hidden Gem in Durham fantastic food and service. New favourite go to for Indian food.

Really authentic Indian food. Dishes you won't find in your average restaurant or takeaway. A little hotter than you might be used to but the spices are so well balanced the heat is fine. Great service and lovely ambience. Great views over Durham if you sit outside.

I appreciate your detailed response to my review, though I must say, your message further demonstrates the issues I initially highlighted. You can't improve your establishment if you continue to deny there's a problem, even when multiple customers echo the same concerns. Firstly, let's clear up what garlic naan is: it's not just buttered naan, it's naan that should distinctly taste like garlic hence have garlic. The naan I received was lacking this basic characteristic. Whether you make your butter in-house is besides the point; the dish did not meet basic expectations. Secondly, the issue with portion sizes isn't an isolated opinion of mine. Other customers have pointed this out in their reviews. Ignoring collective feedback in favor of your own perception is both misguided and bad for business. Lastly, regarding the restaurant's patronage, my observation about the restaurant being mostly empty isn't baseless. Denying this fact doesn't change the reality; it merely perpetuates the issue. I hope you begin to take your customer feedback seriously, as a refusal to acknowledge issues is a surefire way to remain stagnant or, worse, fail in an already competitive industry.

Although not “traditional”, everything was interesting and very tasty. Raj gave excellent recommendations and service.

honest feedback: it is not at all close to authentic Indian flavours. 1. Garlic naan is naan without any garlic, they just use garlic flavoured butter 2. Lacha paratha: is just a tandoori rooti. 3. Portions are too less, not even 50 percent of the kadhai in which they serve the food. Indian food is about simplicity of flavours and good portions. No wonder it is empty most of the time.

Holi and Bhang is my absolute favourite Indian restaurant in Britain (which means anywhere on the Planet), as I still believe that The UK Indian restaurants are the best! Tony (the manager who we met when the restaurant first opened a few years ago) is now the Head Chef and the food is as good as it ever was. So happy and so full…. My son has finished at Uni in Durham, and we live in Thailand, but I will come back and drive 450 miles from my Mum’s place just to eat there again!

Absolutely stunning food. Rich flavours and beautiful presentation. Would recommend!

An unexpected location: ground floor of a small hotel in a leafy suburb. The food is outstanding; an interesting menu and "proper cooking" with carefully blended spices and flavours. Highly recommended.

Ordered for takeaway and was delighted....some of the most fantastic curry I have ever had

Superb food, so good we went two nights in a row!

Just excellent food with stunning views over Durham.

One of the best Indian restaurants I've ever been to. The food was spot on delicious.

Lovely food, nice staff. Soft shell crab starter was particularly good. A bit noisy as it filled up, but that’s because it’s small. Reasonable prices as well. Worth the difficulty of finding😂

The food is good but the quantity is very less.

Staff fabulous food fabulous An absolutely brilliant end to a fabulous weekend

The ambience is nice but the food and the hospitality with the customers was not really good and food is not cooked properly and if u complaint abt the food they wouldn’t respond

Absolutely shocking meal ,chicken with tomato soup as the sauce meant to be atwo chilli heat on the menu but no spice heat at all definitely not recommended.

In hindsight I should have paid attention to the earlier honest reviews by guests. Not sure I can review for Indian food as it will be an insult to Indian Cuisine, Adding half a spoon of red chilli powder to everything you cook hardly makes it Indian. Unless you really want to feel bad for making that decision to go out and feel unwell for the next couple of days - avoid it. If going with kids definitely avoid it.

The food was fantastic, the balance of flavours is great. Spicier than I am used too, I normally go for much milder curry choices but each dish had something to cool your palate and the spice was never overpowering as a result. The Tahli option was great as it gave me a broad base of styles, tastes and textures to try and I was not disappointed! I have only ever found two Indian restaurants I would revisit and often do, miles apart from one another but if I was ever in that area those are the only places I would order an Indian meal from and on Durham I can't see how it can get better than this! One lady taking orders and organising the deliveries as I went during a quiet weekday in January but she was polite, friendly and helpful, she advised me of each dish, what was in it, and kept my water topped up for me. Always on hand but never overbearing she's clearly an expert in her field.

Fantastic food. An experience in Indian dining unlike any that I have had before!

It's a small dining area but the food and service was excellent. Chilli rate on menu was a bit misleading for me . 2 chilli was more like3 and 1 more like 2. But that could just be my taste.

A good selection of dishes that you don’t ordinarily find on Indian’s menus. Soft-shell crab and duck breast were superb. Go for something different, it’s likely going to be rewarding.

Overall the ambience is very good and service is also great to compliment the lovely ambience. Food is ok in taste as we had ordered Panner Makhani and it felt like I was eating panner dipped in tomato ketchup but other curry was good in taste and had good texture. Overall I would recommend the place

Great location and service, however in my opinion unneccesarily hot.

Food ok but service very slow-waited an hour for starters- and those in charge were reluctant to give any sort of refund (we got £10 off the bill eventually). We didn't leave a tip.

The new dish, Lamb Resader, absolutely to die for, great spicy taste, succulent meat and a wonderful after taste. It's a must!!!

Amazing place, great ambience, friendly staff, good service above all really good food.

We had a wonderful evening for my daughters birthday. Lovely food and great staff. Welcomed and looked after

If I was rating only the food this place would get a banging 5 ⭐( well, maybe 4 as the rice portions were on the very small side). The lamb was cooked perfectly, sauces were rich and full of flavour and the paneer starter was incredible and beautifully presented. The naan bread was incredible. Food aside, the wheels fell off slightly with the service side of our experience. We booked a table for 9pm, this didn't seem to be a problem but I wasn't made aware they closed at 10pm. We ordered starters to come out with the mains but they arrived first , which wasn't an issue but this meant that we weren't served our mains until around 940. The kitchen was being closed down by this time and staff were finishing their shift which made for an uncomfortable inhalation of our main course ( and lack of photos to add to this review) made even more awkward by the silence from the broken music system and the lights being turned out around us . With staff sitting on nearby tables waiting to leave we didn't dare ask for another drink or to see the dessert menu ( on reflection my waistline is thankful for this 😅). All in all the food was fantastic and I'd return based on that alone but maybe the timings for last service should be reviewed so people don't feel rushed and uncomfortable.

Great service and wonderful food. Very authentic and reminds me of my stays at the Oberoi and Taj hotels in India

Nice place but I didn't like the food No I don't think so the food was not nice and the coffee you clearly showed you didn't know what you were doing serving an Irish coffee without cream then asking if I wanted cream then adding squirty cream which congealed and still put it in the bill. The chutneys are from jars there was nothing authentic about the taste of any of this food.

Best restaurant ive ever been too. Not just best Indian in Durham but best restaurant in the ENTIRE WORLD. The Owner/Manager, Raj, is one of the nicest people ever. Personally phoned my friend and had an unexpected 9 minute chat with him after the meal. Lovely bloke. Quietly spoken, mild mannered. Salt of the Earth kinda guy. They serve you REALLY FAST here aswell, DEFINITELY no long 90 minute waits here. They use only the finest chicken breast, DEFINITELY no grey thigh meat that's not mentioned on the menu. There's also a great no smoking policy too where their staff DEFINITELY don't smoke near the kitchen back door so you never get any smoke wafting in ruining your meal. The staff are brilliant too, they even know how to pronounce everything on the menu. It really was quite the experience. We're thinking about going again next week. Perhaps every week.....forever.

The ambience is nice. Food is delicious. Service was good also

We had a delightful waitress and the setting outside on the terrace was lovely. The food was very nicely presented but some of it lacked nuances of flavour. Some dishes were very, very spicy hot but without a depth of flavour. The tarka dhal was delicious but the tomato paneer dish was essentially strong tomato and chilli. The portions of curry were a decent size but the rice portions for the price were small. The gentleman who took over our service was helpful and polite. Overall we thought it was rather overpriced and some of the food was a tad disappointing but the people and the environment were lovely.

Enterance to car park is very tight, so be careful when you pull in. Staff are very welcoming and manager is very attentive along with waitresses. Complementary appetisers were nice along with starters. Main meals were exactly how I like my curry, just the right amount of spicy kick. Only down side to the meal was that the rice portion was to small for the amount of curry so had to order extra rice. Small change from £5 for a can of cider, I felt was very over priced.

The food is wonderful, as is the service and atmosphere.

Beautiful meal,friendly staff,would highly recommend!

Ordered takeaway, had to go and collect it as just eat kept putting the time back. Chicken hariali described as chicken breast - it was not, OK if you like thigh and leg meat but it should be described as such.

I would highly recommend the food at this restaurant. Couldn't fault anything. None of your generic indian restaurant base sauces here...everything had its own unique flavour and texture and it was all cooked perfectly. There is a very good variety available including all of the classics as well as some very nice specialty dishes. The service was friendly and professional and the restaurant had a homely feel to it. We did not feel rushed at all. One small criticism from some of our group was that the draft kingfisher beer didn't quite taste right and that the music could have been more in keeping with the style of restaurant...but other than that it was superb. We will definitely eat there again.

Best Indian meal we have had from up and down the country deffonatly worth the visit

The best kept secret in Durham! A unique Indian tasting experience! This lovely Indian restaurant tucked away in a beautiful hotel was an amazing experience. All the dishes were freshly cooked, with beautiful spices and delicious flavours. It had options to all tastes, with vegan and vegetarian options! A definitely must!

Good food, menu that encourages repeated visits.

Top notch flavours with subtle spice combinations.. take note of the 🌶 signs and expect the best..

Spot on, nice place. Offering a different taste of India. Meal excellent. Loved the hot chilli mango dip. 🥭

First and last visit, unfortunately. Everything was nicely presented but sadly the flavours weren't good. Both curries were hotter than you'd expect 'medium' to be, which would have been fine had it not been for the overpowering taste of tomato puree. The peshwari naan breads weren't great either, the filling was dry and tasteless. This is the only Indian restaurant I've ever been to where I've had an really unpleasant meal, some places are better than others but none have been this disappointing. Service was ok, could have been quicker but no real complaints there, just the food that let the place down.

Some of the best experience of Indian cuisine in Durham. We had difficulty finding it in the dark evening but worth it. Prices very reasonable.

Excellent food and service Highly recommend

Great vegetarian choice of dishes (love when I can get paneer curries) and all of the food was delicious (rest of my party felt the same). Small and atmospheric, lively and comfortable.

What a find! A fantastic Indian experience but not your usual curry house, which is great. The food and staff were amazing, especially the owner who took the time to walk our table of 10 through the menu when ordering. We had the table for the night, never rushed, great food and great value for money. Looking forward to heading back. Thanks to Raj and the team.

A hidden gem in Durham ! Highly recommend the food which was delicious and such friendly customer service. We were a party of 10 and had the table for the full evening, which was a wonderful, relaxing night for all of us. Thanks to the all the staff.

My new favourite restaurant in Durham- Tony the host was fantastic, his recommendations were spot on - we had an Indian friend of my son with us and he was also v impressed with the authenticity of the regional dishes - we had a bit of everything and shared, everything was delicious! A little hard to find especially since the outside lights had all shorted, but very well worth it. The best Indian in Durham in my opinion (& probably the best restaurant overall)!

Absolutely wonderful food, lovely staff and an all round great experience.

Fabulous meal,wonderful atmosphere and attentive staff. A great dining experience.

Exceptional . Everything is brilliant .

This is a great restaurant. Attention to detail is respectful. Staff are polite and attentive and of course the food was delicious.We were even graced by the chef himself who was very polite and explained some of the dishes.Give it a try you won't be disappointed. Sorry there are no pics, before I knew I'd eaten it.

A hidden gem excellent authentic Indian food and at a reasonable price.Very friendly staff!

To be honest, it deserves zero star. I feel chef has no idea of cooking Indian recipe. Being an Indian, I would just recommend - please avoid this place

Food excellent and staff helpful, but seemed understaffed on the day I attended.

Celebrated Nav’s birthday with great friends at the restaurant! Fantastic food and great ambience. The staff were very friendly and service was exemplary ! Will strongly recommend Holi and Bang to a lot of other friends! Moez Mamuji. (Mo)

Celebrating Nav's birthday with friends and we could not have picked a better place. The setting is fabulous with views overlooking Durham. The service was friendly and the food was exceptionally good, our whole group had nothing but praise for the quality of the food. We will definitely return, thank you.

Wow great food I would make the food bigger

Great food friendly atmosphere.

The overall experience was pleasant with fantastic indian food , authentic taste and friendly staff. The ambience is pleasant , food presentation unique and amazing staff who understand the customers to a great degree - A must place to visit and taste the food -

Sat on the terrace on Wednesday night. Marvellous food and service and a great view.

Amazing. Ate outside in April after lockdown restrictions had been eased. Food was amazing, setting was lovely with outdoor heating and a great view. Recommending Holi & Bhang to all our friends and family.

Superb food, best indian cuisine in Durham! Atmosphere lacking, could do with some background music

First class. Consistently great.

Wonderful food, great value for money

Great food, great service, great value for money. We had a take away from Holi and Bhang this evening and the food was delicious and the portions were very generous. The member of staff that served us went beyond great customer service, he couldn't do enough for us and brought our food to our car. I can certainly recommend Holi and Bhang, you won't be disappointed. Overall exceptional.

Fabulous, lovely food and great service, I had the Goan fish curry I highly recommend it! My new favourite curry 👍

got a take away from here last night and had a tikka masala and it was really rich and cream lovely.

Trying to be the best needs service shake up

Excellent service . Excellent food. Great value.

Lovely food cannot fault 100 per cent 😃😃😃

Hands down the best and most authentic Indian cuisine available in the Durham! The vibes from both the staff and place were so positive and welcoming. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for some desi food to come and eat at Holi and Bhang! The tadka daal, especially, was a delight to eat. Tasted just like home!

Absolutely gorgeous presentation and to top it authentic Indian taste!!!!! Thank you Chef Dalbir for a fabulous dinner. My boys just loved the food

Life changingly good curry - thanks to our waiter Charles. We will be back

Excellent dépaysement en terme de plats indiens. A essayer et apprécier.